Overview

• Hungary has formally announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, with the process expected to take a year pending parliamentary approval.
• The announcement coincides with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's state visit to Budapest, his second trip abroad since the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him in November 2024.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the ICC as a 'political court' and reaffirmed Hungary's refusal to enforce the warrant, calling it 'brazen and unacceptable.'
• The ICC has reiterated that Hungary remains obligated to cooperate with the court until its withdrawal is finalized, drawing criticism from rights groups and international organizations.
• Netanyahu's visit is seen as part of his broader effort to normalize international travel despite the ICC warrant, leveraging Hungary's support as a key ally.